LEADERSHIPSizing up the comflBtition

Powerlist Foundation

An understanding of leadership is crucial if you are to be successful. Last July 40 young people were offered the chance to gain a unique insight on a world-class programme. Kyomi Wade was one of them

SUMMER SCHOOL

Taking notes was important

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FUTURE LEADERS 2011-12

hi summer I had the good fortune to take part in the inaugural Powerlit Foundation Summer School. Designed and hosted by the world-renowned professional services giant Deloitte on behalf of the Powerlist Foundation, the exciting threeand-a-half day course took 38 penultimate-year university students (with a couple of first years thrown in for good measure) and put us through a challenge to identify the characteristics of great leadership. Over the three-and-a-half days, a wide variety of keynote speakers gave a deep and personal insight into the reasons for their success and explained to us what leadership meant to them. They included orthopaedic surgeon Samantha Tross, private equity baron Damon Buffini, last year's top Future Leader Edwin Broni-Mensah, Avante Partnership CEO Cedric Frederick and Powerlist Foundation chair Ken Olisa, owner of boutique merchant bank Restoration Partners. We were taught by experts from a variety of disciplines, including Judi James, one of the world's leadiig body language and behaviour experts, who spoke on the psychology of presentation, touching on the way we speak, stand and even how to shake someone's hand properly. And at the two networking evenings we met some incredibly important and useful people. After being tested for our learning styles

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and personal characteristics, we were divided inlo five groups and given a mentor - each of whom was a very successful person in their own right. The mentor for my group was management consultant Phil Walker, who proved the catalyst for the many of the ideas we came up with. We then were given the challenge which stated: Using your knowledge of business, what makes a successful leader in the 21st century? The next two-andahalf days was spent answering that question by listening to what the guest speakers had to say, attending various specialist sessions and taking advice heomour mentors. On the final day each group presented their solution to the challenge to the judges, who, after deliberating, offered each group invaluable feedback on how we had done. 1left the course feeling exhilarated and elevated by what I had learned about myself and enlightened by the range of students I met. 1now understand that being self-awareis key to becoming a great leader and thus my personal starting point.

What some students said:Rachael Owhin, Sussex University 'Theprogramme has been life changing. My new most valuable possession is the blue notebook we were given on the first day. I have filled it with endless notes fi-om all of the speakers, sessions and workshops which I know will help me along the way.'

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The Powerlist Foundation is a charitythat w s formed from the Powerliet, a a publication that celebrates 100 of Britain's

most influentialblack people. Its motto is: 3uuing success with tomorrow's leaden'. www.powerlist-foundation.com

Tom Swift, University of Cambridge 'Thank you for organising what - has turned out to be a wonderful four days. I'm pretty sure that the large majority o f things taught to us would: one, ever have been for free; and two, never have been taught to us before business school. I'm incrediblygrateful for being selected to be on the programme, being able to learn about myself as a leader as well as being able to network and make some life-longfriends.'Sally Dwamena, London School of Economics 'The experience far exceeded my expectationsand I truly learnt an immense amount o f information about myselt; Deloitte, working with other people and most importantly leadership.'

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SHARING SUCCESSWlTH TOMORROW'S LEADERS

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